Lisette in Ruffles!

 Lisette is such a camera hog......hehe. Finished the ruffled panties...Lovin them!!!! Stockings came out ok...they will look a lot better when I finish the garters........

 I like Gavins face in this one.....lol....don't think she likes being blocked...

A little bright with the flash but I like the way her face looks in this shot!

It's been a long time.......

It's been forever since I blogged about anything......and even longer since I have crafted!!! Real life has interupted my dream life for way to long. I started a new job, unfortunately my choice of career does not allow for a lot of craft time. I love my job, it has always been my goal to do work that helps others, this year part of that dream was recognized when I got the chance to work for Volunteers of America Michigan. I work in senior housing, HUD subsidized senior housing, it's a lot of hard work but I love

helping low-income seniors find a home where they can afford and where they feel safe. When I'm at work I stress about work....and when I'm home I stress about work and 2 teenage girls. But thanks on part to this early spring weather I have found a little inspiration to start working on one of my dolls. This one is a MH Ghoulia who is now Lisette, I love these dolls they are soooo posable, she's the first one that I have personalized (although I have broke down and bought several. I started her back in October or November.....I think so it's been awhile........I have been suffering by a huge creative block that has lasted about 4 years. This week I finished her top. Today I am working on her stockings and ruffled panties.....it's actually coming together pretty nicely. I can't wait till she's done, but I have a lot more work ahead of me. Can't wait to post some more pics. I am sooo hoping this is the start of way more craft time for me.                                                                                                                            

My Baby Girls Birthday Cake!!!!

My oldest daughter is an original kinda girl. This year she wanted an Emo-Goth Hello Kitty type cake. I made a sheet cake and then added a layer in the shape of the cute character. She was really happy with the results!!! I had fun with this one using black licorice for whiskers. I don't even try to make black icing anymore, lol, I opted for store bought and I think it worked out for the best!!!

Black and white Hat

Just a tad late on this Halloween post, lol. I made this hat for my daughters costume. I used a manilla folder for the base and hot glued the fabric and glitter on. It was last minute but a lot of fun and she did like the hat no matter how it looks in the pic, lol. Another day of teenage drama!! LOL.                        

It's been sooooooo long!!!!!

Grrrrrr.....I can't believe how long it has been since I posted, but my life sometimes gets in the way of things I want to do. But finally things are starting to settle down and I am hoping to start posting again!!! My BF Zeb has a new niece (wish I had a pic to show) and I made this blanket for her!! I love the circular Burrito baby blankets, they really keep them in tight. I found this pattern in my Crochet for Babies book by Bobbie Matela. I did use three colors for this and added my own trim, but the pattern alone is beautiful and quite easy and fast.

Home Sweet Home Sunday!!!

 Oh how I love my house, problems and all. With Spring here all my crazy flowers were bloomin!!! Every year I am surprised by something new in my yard that I didn't plant!!! When I bought the house the yard was so over grown with weeds you couldn't even walk through it. By the time we moved in it was fall and it was all dead. My first year I found out I have 3 Mulberry trees along my back fence, the perfect area.

 My trees are already starting to get their berries ready for the late summer. These mulberry trees are of the lobed leaf variety, it took me awhile to figure that out since most pics of mulberry trees show the smooth heart shaped leafs. I can't wait till the berries are ripe. 

Last year I planted my Azalias, two pink and three orange. Here they are this year looking healthy and blooming (which is crazy because I have the worst soil ever). I can't wait to see them a few years from now when they are much bigger.                                                      

And finally a picture of my yard!! This year there was actually a lil grass to mow (still mostly weeds).

I hope to show some pics of my roses soon, the bush is looking pretty good. I also planted a Hydrangea but am waiting to see if it will survive, I got it for mothers day and it was starting to die in the basket so I planted it, also hoping to plant my raspberry bush today!!!! So much to do!!!!

Easy Paper Flower Napkin Rings!!

I absolutely love paper flowers. I have seen some amazing, highly detailed, and colorful versions from many artist. I have my May flower themed Bunco Party coming up and want plenty of flowers. I wish I had the time to create the big many petaled flowers I have seen but with my job I just don't, so I make mine from floral printed scrapbook paper. These were made using the DCWV Premium Stacks 12"x12"  'The Sweet Stack' with Glitter. I picked a sparkling pink flower print seen below (this is the thicker paper also kinda like card stock).                                                                   

I cut out the medium and medium small flowers that I needed for my project, there are many sizes so you can use the bigger flowers if you like.

Next I cut between the petals, for the larger, the petals are every two bumps. For the smaller I made every bump a petal as seen below.

Once it was cut I trimmed the petals to give them a rounded shape.

I then bend the petals up, only bending the alternate petals of each flower.

I then glue the smaller flower onto the larger flower and shape them till I'm satisfied.

I love the way they look when you get a bunch together.

After I finish the flowers it's time to get out the cricut (which is great for flowers to). I made these paper napkin rings using the Border 3 from the Story Book cartridge set at 1 1/4 size.

Finally I wrap the plastic silverware in a napkin and wrap the paper ring around it, I used tape to hold it but you can use what ever you like. Then I just stuck the flower on top with some tape.

I can't wait for my party!! I still have so much to do but thought I would share this idea, which is great for baby showers or other events when you want to add a small personal touch. Hope you enjoyed the pics.                                                                                                                                                          

Manic Monday!!!

  Grrrrr....I never seem to have any time to post anymore * pout *. I got transferred awhile ago to Detroit for a C.O.S. housing job. Too much driving!!! It takes me about an hour to get to work, they don't have paid lunches so I'm there 9 hours, then another hour to get home!!! I can't wait till this job is over!! I am crossing my fingers that I get a closer temp job or that I get hired somewhere close. This weekend I did get a lil bit of my running around done. I made time for my dolls, lol. I had a delivery on Friday and it was my Just Jett Dynamite Girl.

I was a little disappointed for the first time in a DG doll. I really didn't like the hair, it has a really cheap plastic feel to it that I couldn't do much with. So I decided to chop it off, here is a pic of Jett looking a little apprehensive about the idea of me with scissors lol.                                                    

I think in the end she agreed that the new look was at least a lil more polished, I figure we can always  reroot it if need be.                                                                                                                                      

So here is the new do, it looks cuter in person (much softer). Well have a great day. Later this week I hope to do some projects with my Cricket, I have a Bunco Party coming up and its my turn to host!!!

Another Manic Monday!!

Actually today was not so bad. But I have been too busy more often than not. I did come home today to see a package on my coffee table. It was my Integrity Dynamite Girls, I bought them off The Doll Page. I loved them as soon as I saw them. They both came nude and I had only enough time to crochet a bikini for Wave 1 Aria. I took some pics but it's late and the light was bad. I didn't really feel like setting up a stage but still I had to get some pics of at least one doll ( I also bought a Beach Boogie Sooki, pics to come soon).

Manic Monday!!!

Grrrrr.... isn't that the way the week always starts, lol. I have been so scatter brained for the last year and I need some organization, lol. I think even my blog needs it so I am going to break my log down to a different category each day of the week. Today is Manic Monday, which it is, and will become my day to talk about whatever I want. Especially ideas of projects I want to do or need to finish. Yesterday I went to the Borders in Dearborn (Michigan) where they are having the closing sale. I found myself with a chin high pile of books and a lot of people staring at me like I was crazy, including my wonderful boyfriend. He doesn't understand my need for the How to Make Soap Book, Intro to Woodworking Book, Learn to Knit Book, Yarn Dyeing Book, Gourmet Cookbook, New Wave Crochet Book, or my many doll magazines. How do I explain that I may one day decide to make my own soap or that I need to have these gourmet recipes, when I don't have supplies to make soap and I never cook. Hmmmmmmm quite the dilemma, especially when I have a craft room full of crafting supplies I never have the time or motivation to use. So I need to set myself up with a way to create in a more organized way. So today when I get home from work I plan on starting to organize my life..........and maybe cook a lil dinner while I'm at it.

Yeah!! I have Internet!!!

Well, finally, I am back!!! So much going on right now!!! But just wanted to post that first blog after being away for sooooo long. Can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!!

Grrrr....Temporary Difficulties!!!

My computer had a breakdown. As soon as I get it fixed I will post again. Wish me luck!! I can still take emails at jenniferlpeterson76@gmail.com, if you have any questions feel free to write, I will try to check my mail once a week. Sorry and thanks for understanding!!

Christmas Countdown!!

Even Barbie has gotten into the Christmas spirit. She has been wraping all day. Me too!!! So much to do, if I don't get time to post again, Merry Christmas to everyone!!

Crochet Hair Clips!

I am doing a mostly home-made Christmas and have been inspired to make some hair clips for my girls. I started with a crochet trim (I got the trim pattern from Leisure Arts: Crochet Embellishments by Jean Leinhauser). It was an easy and fast pattern to whip up.                                                                   

 I then rolled it up and sewed it to keep it together.

 I think it looks pretty good *smiles*

 And here it is with some pearls to dress it up. I stitched it unto a barette.

 I made a couple more in some of their fave colors. This was a fun project. Now I need a couple for me. some of the prettiest hair clips I've seen were by Nichelle @ Vintage Wanna Bee, you should see her blog.

A World of Color

 The first 2 pics above and below are my daughter Emma's room. Because the girls had never had a room of their own, I let them go crazy and pick the colors. Emma's is not so bad, 3 walls were pink and one wall plus ceiling were lavender, the trim was hot pink.

 The bottom 2 are Alex's room, 3 walls are electric lime green (day-glo and really shocking), the trim is hot pink, and one wall (not shown) is cosmic grape.

 Note the plack below (Drama Queen) and believe it. She is one complicated cookie but that also makes her soooo awesome. All their friends love their rooms. Of course it wasn't till later that I wondered how the heck I am going to paint over electric lime green, grrrrrrrrr.....

Yes I Still Play with Dolls!! Hehe

This is my Barbie Fashionista doll, I love the fact that she can be posed in lots of positions but I am not partial to the happy toothy smile so I wanted to change her look.

 A nice blank canvas to work with, but I had to fill in the tooth gap with some gesso, then I changed her face paint.

 Not perfect, but who is, my daughter loved the smeared mascara, she said it gave her an emo edge. I may eventually redo this but for now I like it. Now what to do about the hair?

The Christmas Countdown Begins!!!

To start the month off I picked this picture to show, I made these last holiday season for a fellow dollhouse collector. They are made from polymer clay, individually hand-cut, with tiny candy cane mouths. These are one of my fave miniatures to make.........I love them!

My Niece Peytons New Scarf!!!

I finally finished Peyton's scarf. It's crochet, no pattern, I just made some circles and sewed them all together. I put 2 buttons on it and left the center of one circle loose for the button hole ( normally I wouldn't use buttons for a lil one but she is really great about buttons). She can wear the scarf 2 ways, one way (below) is with a single row around the neck making it longer.                                                          

 The second is double wrapped around the neck for extra warmth ( her mom likes the buttons to keep it on).

 She is pretty happy with it, lol, but the hat I made was to small *pout*. Oh well going to work on it now.

Birthday Cake Time!!

Yesterday was Alex's Birthday, she really likes Fruit Baskets ( a Japanese young adult book series) and wanted a character called Kyo for her cake topper. She found a chibi pic (chibi is when you make a character into a smaller cute version) for me to use as a base. So I started by covering the original artwork with a piece of plastic saran wrap. I decided to use semi-sweet chocolate as the outline.

 I poured the melted chocolate into a sandwich bag and cut the smallest hole I could in the corner.

 I then drew an outline of the character in chocolate. I then used colored white chocolate to fill in the rest.

 I used plain white chocolate to cover the back as a stabalizer since white chocolate hardens faster then darker chocolate. I also made some orange dots for the cake.

 And here is the finished cake. My daughter was very happy with it!!

She had a great time!!

 And recieved her fave series from me!! She has been watching it all day!!